Articles | Volume 10, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/jbji-10-419-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/jbji-10-419-2025
Original full-length article
 | 
30 Oct 2025
Original full-length article |  | 30 Oct 2025

Complete talectomy for post-traumatic osteomyelitis (and/or avascular necrosis): report of a new technique

Daniel Pérez-Prieto, Alois Baumer, Jan Martinez-Lozano, Julian Aquilina, Paul Zamora, Albert Alier, and Lluïsa Sorlí

Cited articles

Backus, J. D. and Ocel, D. L.: Ankle Arthrodesis for Talar Avascular Necrosis and Arthrodesis Nonunion, Foot Ankle Clin., 24, 131–142, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcl.2018.11.004, 2019. 
Bezstarosti, H., Metsemakers, W. J., Van Lieshout, E. M. M., Voskamp, L. W., Kortram, K., McNally, M. A., Marais, L. C., and Verhofstad, M. H. J.: Management of critical-sized bone defects in the treatment of fracture-related infection: a systematic review and pooled analysis, Arch. Orthop. Trauma Surg., 141, 1215–1230, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-020-03525-0, 2021. 
Cohen, M. M. and Kazak, M.: Tibiocalcaneal Arthrodesis With a Porous Tantalum Spacer and Locked Intramedullary Nail for Post-Traumatic Global Avascular Necrosis of the Talus, The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, 54, 1172–1177, https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jfas.2015.01.009, 2015. 
DiGiovanni, C. W., Patel, A., Calfee, R., and Nickisch, F.: Osteonecrosis in the Foot, J. Am. Acad. Orthop. Sur., 15, 208–217, https://doi.org/10.5435/00124635-200704000-00004, 2007. 
Ferguson, J., Athanasou, N., Diefenbeck, M., and McNally, M.: Radiographic and Histological Analysis of a Synthetic Bone Graft Substitute Eluting Gentamicin in the Treatment of Chronic Osteomyelitis, J. Bone Joint Infect., 4, 76–84, https://doi.org/10.7150/jbji.31592, 2019. 
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Short summary

This study explores a solution for patients who suffer a fracture-related infection of the talus following complex ankle injuries. We treated three patients using a two-stage procedure that removes the damaged bone and stabilizes the ankle with a retrograde nail and tantalum spacers. After 3 years, the results showed no relapse of infection, good alignment, and improved quality of life with minimal pain. This approach offers hope for challenging cases where treatment options are limited.

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